A first responder fights a fire set by Russian strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, December 27, 2025

EA on WION: Ukraine-Europe Plan to End Russia’s Invasion

Friday’s Coverage: Zelensky — Progress In Call With Trump Envoys Kushner and Witkoff

UPDATE 0817 GMT:

A Moscow court has sentenced Galina Timchenko, co-founder and CEO of the independent Russian outlet Meduza, to five years in prison in absentia on charges of leading an “undesirable” organization.

The court also barred Timchenko from holding leadership positions for five years.

Russia’s Prosecutor General banned Meduza as an “undesirable organization” in 2023. Timchenko was declared a “foreign agent” in 2024.

The formal basis for the prison sentence is three videos featuring Timchenko: an interview with Germany’s Deutsche Welle, in which she “expresses disagreement and criticizes Russia’s system of government”; an interview with Hungary’s TV2media; and an address to Meduza readers in which she asked “for assistance, including financial support”.

UPDATE 0809 GMT:

The leader and founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a paramilitary group of Russian citizens fighting for Ukraine against Moscow’s invasion, was killed early Saturday in a drone strike.

The RDC announced the death of Denis Kapustin, 41, in the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine.

Kapustin was twice sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment: in November 2023 on charges of “treason” and several articles on “terrorism”, and in November 2024 for participating in a raid in the Bryansk region in western Russia.

UPDATE 0654 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is using apartment blocks in Belarus for attacks.

“We note that the Russians are trying to bypass our defensive interceptor positions through the territory of neighboring Belarus,” Zelensky posted.

Antennae and other equipment are located on the roofs of ordinary five-story apartment buildings, which help guide Shaheds [attack drones] to targets in our western regions. This is an absolute disregard for human lives.

Drawing on satellite imagery, US researchers Jeffrey Lewis and Decker Eveleth say the Russians may be stationing new Oreshnik nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missiles in eastern Belarus.

Lewis and Eveleth said they are 90% certain that mobile Oreshnik launchers will be stationed at a former airbase near Krichev, 307 km (191 miles) east of the Belarus capital Minsk. Imagery from Planet Labs revealed a hurried construction project that began between August 4 and 12 with features consistent with those of a Russian strategic missile base.

Eveleth said a “dead giveaway”, in a November 19 photo, is a “military-grade rail transfer point” enclosed by a security fence to which missiles, their mobile launchers, and other components can be delivered by train.

UPDATE 0639 GMT:

Kim Jong-un has hailed North Korea’s propping up of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a New Year’s greeting to Vladimir Putin, Kim said 2025 was a “really meaningful year” for an alliance that was consolidated by “sharing blood, life and death in the same trench”.

North Korea has provided missiles and millions of artillery shells to Moscow. It despatched around 12,000 troops to help Russia regain the Kerch region, seized by Ukraine in a surprise cross-border operation in August 2024.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia has launched intense missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, a day before a face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in Florida.

The Russians fired Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and Kalibr cruise missiles early Saturday.

At least five civilians were injured, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. A fire was reported in the Holosiivskyi district, while debris fell in the Obolonskyi and Desnianskyi districts.

Power outages were reported in areas near Kyiv, including Brovary, 20 km (12.5 miles) to the northeast. Warehouses, cars, and windows in high-rise buildings were damaged.

Military aircraft were mobilized in neighboring Poland to protect airspace.

Zelensky and Trump to Meet in Mar-a-Lago

Hours earlier, Zelensky confirmed that is visiting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Sunday to discuss the Ukraine-Europe proposal to end Russia’s invasion.

The President told journalists that the five documents are “90% ready”. They include provisions on territory, security guarantees, Ukraine’s reconstruction, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

On Saturday, Zelensky spoke with a series of partners, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

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Zelensky told the Ukrainian people:

There are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace. Real security, real recovery, and real peace are what all of us need – Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and every partner who helps us.

The Kremlin is Not Happy

The Kremlin, whose ultimatum to Ukraine — developed with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in late October — has been pushed back, fumed on Friday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the Ukraine-Europe proposal “differs radically” from the ultimatum, which demanded the surrender of Ukrainian territory and Kyiv’s perpetual military and political weakness.

“Our ability to make the final push and reach an agreement will depend on our own work and the political will of the other party,” Ryabkov snapped. “Especially in a context where Kyiv and its sponsors – notably within the European Union, who are not in favour of an agreement – have stepped up efforts to torpedo it.”

The Russian demanded that any deal “remain within the limits” fixed by Trump and Vladimir Putin when they met in Alaska in August, or else “no accord can be reached”.

Meanwhile, Trump blustered in an interview with Politico, “[Zelensky] doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.”

He said, “I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin.” He said he expects to speak with Putin “soon, as much as I want”.